LONG LIFE ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 17

LONG LIFE ENDS

SIR FREDERIC LANG MANY YEARS IN PARLIAMENT FORMER SPEAKER OF HOUSE VALUABLE SERVICES GIVEN A long life of public service closed yesterday with the death at Hillsborough of the Hon. Sir Frederic William Lang, formerly Speaker of the House of Representatives, in his 85th year. Sir Frederic's Parliamentary career, as a member of the House and later of the Legislative Council, extended over 39 years, and he was Speaker for ten years, from 1913 to 1923. Born at Blackheath, Kent, in 1852, Sir Frederic was the youngest son of Mr. Oliver Lang, of Vanburgh Park. He was educated in his native town and at the ago of 19 embarked for New Zealand with the intention of settling on the land in the Auckland Province. Early Days in the Waikato In 1872, when he arrived, the southern districts were still in a very disturbed state as an aftermath of the Waikato War, the rise of Hauhauism and the campaigns against Te Kooti-, who had taken refuge in the Maori king's territory at the end of 1871. After making a trip on horseback through the Rotorua and Taupo districts, the young Englishman resisted the temptation to seek more peaceful regions, and he eventually took up a block of land at Tuhikaramea, on the Wa ipa River, converting it into a successful farm. In due course he was elected chairman of the Tuhikaramea Road Board, and then became chairman of the Waipa County Council. He also represented the district on the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which at that time conducted what would now be considered only a country cottage hospital. He also took an active part in the work of various agricultural and pastoral societies. Election to Parliament At the general election of 1893, Sir Frederic won the Waipa seat after a contest with the late Mr. Gerald Peacocke. Three years later, when the name of the electorate was altered to Waikato, he was returned practically without opposition, the Rev. E. Walker having been nominated against him almost at the last moment by the NewZealand Alliance, in order to ensure that a local option poll should be held. In 1899 and 1902 he was re-elected, but iu 1905 he was defeated by Mr. H. J. Greenslade. However, he re-entered Parliament in December, 1906, ns member for Manukau, having won the scat by a largo majority at a by-election caused by the death of Mr. M. M. Kirkbride. About this time he disposed of his farm and purchased a property of about 50 acres in the Pah Estate, Hillsborough, which was his home for the remainder of his life. He represented Manukau continuously until Mr. W. J. Jordan captured the seat for the Labour Party in 1922. During the regimes of Mr. Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Frederic was a hard-working member of the Opposition under Mr. Massey. He did not aspire to honours in debate, but performed valuable service in committees of the House, especially those which dealt with lands, agriculture and stock, and as senior Opposition whip. Decade as Speaker When the Reform Party was returned to power in 1912 he was elected chairman of committees, and next year he succeeded Sir Arthur Guinness as Speaker. By a coincidence. Sir Arthur Guinness' predecessor in the chair, Sir Maurice O'Rorke, also had been member I for Manukau. Sir Frederick held office for his remaining ten years in the House, a period which embraced that of the Great War. In the birthday honours of 1916 he was created a Knight Bachelor. In the chair Sir Frederic preserved the regard which he had long inspired in members of all political groups by his kindly character, and his control of debates was invariably gentle. On relinquishing the Speakership in 1923 to Sir Charles Statham, he spent some months in retirement, and the following year was appointed to the Legislative Council, in which ho sat until the expiry of his seven years' term in 1931. .As a young man Sir Frederic was an : enthusiastic cricketer and represented Auckland at Rugby football. He was unmarried and none of his relatives reside in New Zealand. The interment will be private.